Elements of Short Stories. You will need to be able to define and identify these.

1. Notes – Short Story Elements Heather Fournier English I

3. What is Conflict ? All stories are built on CONFLICT. It provides the central source of tension and drama that make stories interesting to read. Types of Conflict: Man vs. Man Man vs. Society Man vs. Nature Man vs. Self Man vs. Fate Man vs. Technology

4. Man vs. Man – involves conflicts between people – such as family conflict, trouble with a buddy, difficulties in romance, etc. Man vs. Society – involves conflict between an individual and larger groups – such as the outsider in a strange culture, a poor character’s struggle to “make it” in the business world, etc. Man vs. Nature – involves conflict between and individual and the natural world – such as fighting a powerful hurricane, surviving a plane crash in the desert, etc. Man vs. Self – involves characters’ psychological conflicts with themselves – such as overcoming a drug habit or alcoholism, grieving over the loss of a loved one, etc. Man vs. Fate – involves conflict with what seems to be an uncontrollable problem – such as destiny. Man vs. Technology – involves a conflict with the forces of man-made technology – such as a robot.

5. Conflict, Continued: EXTERNAL CONFLICT: A struggle between a character and an outside force. Which types of CONFLICT are EXTERNAL?. INTERNAL CONFLICT: A struggle that takes place in a character’s mind. Which types of CONFLICT are INTERNAL?

7. What is Setting? The SETTING of a story serves different functions in the action and the emotional effect it has on the reader. In some stories, the setting might almost be considered a “character” itself! Setting works in many important ways in the short story: Provides a backdrop for the action (mood). Establishes atmosphere. Shapes character and action. Reflects character psychology.

9. TECHNIQUES OF CHARACTERIZATION DIRECT CHARACTERIZATION: The author TELLS the reader information about the characters directly. INDIRECT CHARACTERIZATION: The author SHOWS the character in action and lets the readers make their own interpretations. AUTHOR’S CHARACTERIZATION TOOLS: The character’s name Physical appearance Character’s dress Occupation Home & surroundings Habits & Actions What other characters say or think about him/her

14. The Narrator vs. The Author If the NARRATOR is telling the story, readers must be careful not to confuse the narrator’s attitude with the author’s. Often authors create a character to act as a narrator who expresses far different attitudes than those they hold for themselves. THE UNRELIABLE NARRATOR: Sometimes authors create a narrator who gives the reader clues that he or she is not to be trusted as a reliable source of information. It then becomes the reader’s job to decide the “real truth” beneath the unreliable narrator’s lies or distortions.

22. Tone, & Mood Mood is the overall feeling – light, happy, dark or mysterious, for example – created by an author’s words. Mood is the way the a text makes the READER feel.

23. Woo Hoo! That’s All Folks! (Smashing, baby!) Buh-Bye!